Communication method, communication system, relaying device and communication device

ABSTRACT

A communication device transmits to a relaying device a transmission right grant request for requesting a grant of a transmission right to a transmitting device, and the relaying device determines whether the received transmission right grant request is a command associated with the transmission right of the communication device or a command associated with the transmitting device, and if it determines that it is the command associated with the transmitting device, it grants the transmission right to the transmitting device, and starts broadcasting of data being transmitted from the transmitting device. In addition, when receiving from the communication device an operation command for operating the transmitting device, the relaying device determines a type of the command and transmits it to the transmitting device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/394,097 filed Mar. 31, 2006 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,596,132, which claimspriority under 35 U.S.C. §119 (a) to Japanese Patent Application No.2005-379820 filed on Dec. 28, 2005; the entire contents of both priorapplications are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a communication method in which, usinga plurality of communication devices and a relaying device that relaysdata transmissions between the communication devices, one of thecommunication devices transmits a transmission right request to therelaying device and transmits data to the relaying device when atransmission right is granted by the relaying device, and the relayingdevice broadcasts the received data to other communication devices, andfurther relates to a communication system employing the communicationmethod, as well as to the relaying device provided for the communicationsystem, and the communication device provided for the communicationsystem. In particular, the invention relates to a communication method,a communication system, a relaying device and a communication devicethat are applicable to a PoC (Push-to-Talk over Cellular) servicewhereby data is transmitted to a plurality of devices by multipleaddressing, by using IP (Internet Protocol) telephone in the same manneras in communication between transceivers.

2. Description of the Related Art

At present, use of real-time application such as VoIP (Voice overInternet Protocol), VoPN (Voice over Packet Network), streamingdelivery, etc. has been increasing, wherein voice and image data istransmitted and received among communication devices by way of acommunication network such as IP (Internet Protocol) network. Then, anIP telephone, one example thereof, has been spreading rapidly. IPtelephony implements a call between a communication device on atransmitting end and that on a receiving end by transmitting/receivingvoice data by way of an IP network.

In addition, a service called PoC (Push-to-Talk over Cellular) has nowcome under the spotlight wherein it transmits packets containing voicedata to a plurality of communication devices by multiple addressing, byusing technology of the IP telephone as if it were a transceiver. Thecharacteristic of the PoC service is that the PoC employs half duplexcommunication wherein one of a plurality of communication devicesacquires a transmission right to transmit voice data, the onecommunication device that has acquires the transmission right transmitsthe voice data to the other plurality of communication devices bymultiple addressing, and thus enabling the simultaneous communicationamong three or more devices.

As described above, in a group communication system such as the PoCservice, etc, one device that has acquired a transmission righttransmits voice data to a plurality of other devices by using multipleaddressing, which can realize a one-to-many communication, therebysaving trouble and reducing cost of transmitting the same contentindividually. As another advantage, even if a speaker who has acquiredthe transmission right intends to speak to a single person, it ispossible to share the information by broadcasting the content.

Further, Japanese Published Patent Publication No. 2003-526276 alsodiscloses an embodiment in which a digital camera, for example, is usedas a communication device in such a service.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, the technique disclosed in Japanese Published PatentPublication No. 2003-526276 has a problem that a specific method ofoperating a digital camera is not disclosed. Further, there is anotherproblem that the above-noted application does not disclose anapplication of, in addition to the digital camera, a device that cannotbe physically operated in hands of a user to the group communicationsystem.

The present invention has been made with the aim of solving the aboveproblem, and it is an object of the present invention to provide acommunication method in which a communication device requests atransmission right on behalf of a transmitting device such as a camerathat cannot be physically operated by hands of a user and operates thetransmitting device by remote control, thereby realizing a groupcommunication system such as a PoC service using the transmitting devicesuch as a camera, and further provide a communication system employingthe communication method, as well as to the relaying device provided forthe communication system, and the communication device provided for thecommunication system.

A communication method according to a first aspect is a communicationmethod wherein using a plurality of communication devices and a relayingdevice for relaying data transfer among the communication devices, onecommunication device transmits to the relaying device a transmissionright request for requesting a transmission right, which is one ofcommands associated with its own transmission right and transmits datato the relaying device when the communication devices is granted thetransmission right by the relaying device, and the relaying devicebroadcasts the received data to other communication device,characterized by comprising the steps of the communication devicetransmitting to the relaying device a transmission right grant requestfor requesting a grant of a transmission right to a transmitting device,which is one of the commands associated with the transmitting devicethat communicates with the relaying device and transmits data to therelaying device; the relaying device determining whether the receivedtransmission right grant request is a command associated with atransmission right of the communication device of a transmission sourceor a command associated with the transmitting device; if the relayingdevice determines that it is the command associated with thetransmitting device, the relaying device following the command andgranting a transmission right to the transmitting device; the relayingdevice broadcasting to the plurality of communication devices data beingtransmitted from the transmitting device to which the transmission rightis granted; the communication device further transmitting to therelaying device an operation command for operating the transmittingdevice, which is one of the commands associated with the transmittingdevice; the relaying device further determining whether the receivedoperation command is the command associated with the transmission rightof the communication device of the transmission source, or the commandassociated with the transmitting device; if the relaying devicedetermines that it is the command associated with the transmittingdevice, the relaying device transmitting the operation command to thetransmitting device; and the transmitting device operating based on thereceived operation command.

A communication method according to a second aspect is a communicationmethod wherein using a plurality of communication devices and a relayingdevice for relaying data transfer among the communication devices, onecommunication device transmits to the relaying device a transmissionright request for requesting a transmission right, which is one ofcommands associated with its own transmission right and transmits datato the relaying device when the communication device is granted thetransmission right by the relaying device, and the relaying devicebroadcasts the received data to other communication device,characterized by comprising the steps of the communication devicetransmitting to the relaying device a transmission right grant requestfor granting of the transmission right to a transmitting device, whichis one of commands associated to the transmitting device thatcommunicates with the relaying device and the communication devices, andtransmits data to the relaying device; the relaying device determiningwhether the received transmission right grant request is a commandassociated with the transmission right of the communication device of atransmission source or a command associated with the transmittingdevice; if the relaying device determines that it is the commandassociated with the transmitting device, the relaying device followingthe command and granting the transmission right to the transmittingdevice; the relaying device broadcasting to the plurality ofcommunication devices data being transmitted from the transmittingdevice to which the transmission right is granted; the relaying devicetransmitting to the communication device communication informationnecessary for communication with the transmitting device; thecommunication device further transmitting to the transmitting device anoperation command for operating the transmitting device, based on thereceived communication information; and the transmitting deviceoperating based on the received operation command.

A communication method according to a third aspect is a communicationmethod wherein using a plurality of communication devices and a relayingdevice for relaying data transfer among the communication devices, onecommunication device transmits to the relaying device a transmissionright request for requesting a transmission right, and transmits data tothe relaying device when the communication device is granted thetransmission right by the relaying device, and the relaying devicebroadcasts the received data to other communication device,characterized by comprising the steps of the communication devicetransmitting to the relaying device a communication informationtransmission request for requesting transmission of the communicationinformation necessary for communication with a transmitting device thatcommunicates the relaying device and the communication device, andtransmits data to the relaying device; the relaying device transmittingthe communication information to the communication device, in responseto the received communication information transmission request; based onthe received communication information, the communication device furthertransmitting to the transmitting device an instruction to transmit atransmission right request that causes the transmitting device totransmit a transmission right request for requesting the transmissionright to the transmitting device; based on the received instruction totransmit the transmission right request, the transmitting devicetransmitting to the relaying device the transmission right request forrequesting the transmission right to itself; based on the receivedtransmission right request, the relaying device further granting thetransmission right to the transmitting device; the relay broadcasting tothe plurality of communication devices data being transmitted from thetransmitting device to which the transmission right is granted; based onthe communication information, the communication device furthertransmitting to the transmitting device an operation command foroperating the transmitting device; and the transmitting device furtheroperating based on the received operation command.

A communication system according to a fourth aspect is a communicationsystem comprising a plurality of communication devices and a relayingdevice for relaying data transfer among the communication devices,wherein one communication device transmits to the relaying device atransmission right request for requesting a transmission right, which isone of commands associated with its own transmission right and transmitsdata to the relaying device when the communication device is granted thetransmission right by the relaying device, and the relaying devicebroadcasts the received data to other communication device,characterized by comprising: a transmitting device that communicateswith the relaying device and transmits data to the relaying device,wherein the communication device comprises: means for transmitting tothe relaying device a transmission right grant request for requestingthe grant of the transmission right to the transmitting device, which isone of the commands associated with the transmitting device, therelaying device comprises, means for determining whether the receivedtransmission right grant request is a command associated with thetransmission right of the communication device of a transmission sourceor a command associated with the transmitting device, if it isdetermined that it is the command associated with the transmittingdevice, means for following the command and granting the transmissionright to the transmitting device; and means for broadcasting to aplurality of communication devices data being transmitted from thetransmitting device to which the transmission right is granted, thecommunication device further comprises: means for transmitting to therelaying device an operation command for operating the transmittingdevice, which is one of the commands associated with the transmittingdevice, the relaying device further comprises: means for determiningwhether the received operation command is the command associated withthe transmission right of the communication device of the transmissionsource or the command associated with the transmitting device, and if itis determined that it is the command associated with the transmittingdevice, means for transmitting the operation command to the transmittingdevice, the transmitting device comprises: means for operating based onthe received operation command.

A communication system according to a fifth aspect is a communicationsystem comprising a plurality of communication devices and a relayingdevice for relaying data transfer among the communication devices,wherein one communication device transmits to the relaying device atransmission right request for requesting a transmission right, which isone of commands associated with its own transmission right and transmitsdata to the relaying device when the communication device is granted thetransmission right by the relaying device, and the relaying devicebroadcasts the received data to other communication device,characterized by comprising: a transmitting device that communicateswith the relaying device and the communication devices and transmitsdata to the relaying device, wherein the communication device comprises:means for transmitting to the relaying device a transmission right grantrequest for requesting the grant of the transmission right to thetransmitting device, which is one of the commands associated with thetransmitting device; the relaying device comprises: means fordetermining whether the received transmission right grant request is acommand associated with a transmission right of a communication deviceof a transmission source or a command associated with the transmittingdevice; if it is determined that it is the command associated with thetransmitting device, means for following the command and granting thetransmission right to the transmitting device; means for transmitting tothe communication device communication information necessary forcommunication with the transmitting device; and means for broadcastingto the plurality of communication devices data being transmitted fromthe transmitting device to which the transmission right is granted; thecommunication device further comprises: based on the receivedcommunication information, means for transmitting to the transmittingdevice an operation command for operating the transmitting device; thetransmitting device comprises: means for operating based on the receivedoperation command.

A communication system according to a sixth aspect is a communicationsystem comprising a plurality of communication devices and a relayingdevice for relaying data transfer among the communication devices, onecommunication device transmits to the relaying device a transmissionright request for requesting a transmission right, and transmits data tothe relaying device when the communication device is granted thetransmission right by the relaying device, and the relaying devicebroadcasts the received data to other communication device,characterized by comprising: a transmitting device that communicateswith the relaying device and communication devices and transmits data tothe relaying device, wherein the communication device comprises: meansfor transmitting to the relaying device a communication informationtransmission request for requesting transmission of communicationinformation necessary for communication with the transmitting device;the relaying device comprises: means for transmitting the communicationinformation to the communication device in response to the receivedcommunication information transmission request; the communication devicefurther comprises: based on the received communication information,means for transmitting to the transmitting means an instruction totransmit a transmission right request that causes the transmittingdevice to transmit a transmission right request for requesting thetransmission right to the transmitting device; the transmitting devicecomprises: based on the received instruction to transmit thetransmission right request, means for transmitting to the relayingdevice the transmission right request for requesting the transmissionright to itself, the relaying device further comprises: based on thereceived transmission right request, means for granting the transmissionright to the transmitting device; and means for broadcasting to theplurality of communication devices data being transmitted from thetransmitting device to which the transmission right is granted; thecommunication device further comprises: based on the communicationinformation, means for transmitting to the transmitting device anoperation command for operating the transmitting device; thetransmitting device further comprises: means for operating based on thereceived operation command.

A communication system according to a seventh aspect is thecommunication system according to any one of the fourth aspect to thesixth aspect, characterized in that the transmitting device furthercomprises: shooting means, and is configured to transmit, as data,images based on the shooting of the shooting means.

A relaying device according to an eighth aspect is a relaying devicecommunicating with a plurality of communication devices, granting atransmission right to one communication device of a transmission sourceof a transmission right request when the replaying device receives thetransmission right request for requesting a transmission right, which isone of commands associated with the transmission right of thecommunication device from the one communication device, and broadcastingto other communication device data received from the one communicationdevice to which the transmission right is granted, characterized bycomprising: means for communicating with a transmitting device thattransmits data; means for receiving from the communication device atransmission right grant request for requesting the grant of thetransmission right to the transmitting device, one of the commandsassociated with the transmitting device; means for determining whetherthe received command is a command associated with the transmission rightof the communication device of the transmission source or a commandassociated with the transmitting device; if it is determined that it isthe command associated with the transmitting device, means for followingthe command and granting the transmitting right to the transmittingdevice; means for broadcasting to the plurality of communication devicesdata being transmitted from the transmitting device to which thetransmission right is granted; means for receiving from thecommunication device an operation command for operating the transmittingdevice, which is one of the commands associated with the transmittingdevice; means for determining whether the received command is thecommand associated with the transmission right of the communicationdevice of the transmission source, or the command associated with thetransmitting device; and if it is determined that it is the commandassociated with the transmitting device, means for transmitting theoperation command to the transmitting device.

A relaying device according to a ninth aspect is a relaying devicecommunicating with a plurality of communication devices, granting atransmission right to a communication device of a transmission source ofa transmission right request when the relaying device receives thetransmission right request for requesting the transmission right, whichis one of commands associated with the transmission right of thecommunication device from the one communication device, and broadcastingto other communication device data received from the one communicationdevice to which the transmission right is granted, characterized bycomprising: means for communicating with a transmitting device thattransmits data; means for receiving from the communication device atransmission right grant request for requesting the grant of thetransmission right to the transmitting device, one of the commandsassociated with the transmitting device; means for determining whetherthe received command is a command associated with the transmission rightof the communication device of the transmission source or a commandassociated with the transmitting device; if it is determined that it isthe command associated with the transmitting device, means for followingthe command and granting the transmitting right to the transmittingdevice; means for broadcasting to the plurality of communication devicesdata being transmitted from the transmitting device to which thetransmission right is granted; and means for transmitting to thecommunication device the communication information necessary forcommunication with the transmitting device.

A communication device according to a tenth aspect is a communicationdevice communicating with a relaying device which communicates with aplurality of devices, grants a transmission right to one device of atransmission source of a transmission right request when the relayingdevice receives the transmission right request for requesting thetransmission right from the one device, and broadcasts data receivedfrom the one device to which the transmission right is granted,characterized by comprising: means for transmitting to the relayingdevice a transmission right grant request for requesting the grant ofthe transmission right to a transmitting device that communicates withthe relaying device and transmits data to the relaying device; and meansfor transmitting to the relaying device an operation command foroperating the transmitting device.

In the present invention, a communication device can acquire atransmission right or carry out operation on behalf of a transmittingdevice, since the relaying device determines a type of a commandreceived from the communication device, therefore it is possible toremotely control a transmitting device such as a camera that cannot bephysically operated by hands of the user, and to realize data sharing ofsuch as image data, etc. to be sent from the transmitting device.

A communication method, a communication system, a relaying device and acommunication device according to the present invention are applied tosuch as a group communication system called the PoC service that isconfigured by a plurality of communication devices; a relaying devicethat relays data transmissions among the communication devices; and atransmitting device such as a camera that transmits data such as shotimage data. In such a group communication system, one communicationdevice transmits a transmission right request to the relaying device,and when the transmission right is granted by the relaying device, thecommunication device that is granted the transmission right transmitssuch data as voice data to the relaying device, which in turn broadcaststhe received data to the other communication devices. As a proxy of atransmitting device, the communication device transmits to the relayingdevice a transmission right grant request that requests a transmissionright to be granted to the transmitting device, and the relaying devicedetermines whether the received transmission right grant request is acommand associated with a transmission right of the communication deviceor a command associated with the transmitting device, and if determinedto be the command associated with the transmitting device, the relayingdevice grants the transmission right to the transmitting device andbroadcasts data sent from the transmitting device to the communicationdevices. In addition, when receiving an operation command to operate thetransmitting device from the communication device, the relaying devicedetermines a command type and then transmits the operation command tothe transmitting device.

With this configuration, the present invention has beneficial effectthat through remote control of the transmitting device such as a camerathat a user physically cannot operate by hands, sharing of data, such asimage data, transmitted from the transmitting device, can beimplemented, since the communication device can acquire a transmissionright and carry out an operation on behalf of the transmitting device.

The present invention has another beneficial effect that sincecommunication information necessary for communicating with thetransmitting device that acquired the transmission right, such as acommunication address indicating a location on a communication networkthat mediates communications of respective devices is transmitted fromthe relaying device to the communication device, a user who operates thecommunication device has access to the transmitting device based on thecommunication information, and can operate the transmitting devicewithout the relaying device.

The present invention has further beneficial effect that since thecommunication information is transmitted from the relaying device to thecommunication device, the user who operates the communication device hasaccess to the transmitting device based on the communicationinformation, and can have it execute such operations as acquisition of atransmission right, operation, without involving the relaying device.

The above and further objects and features of the invention will morefully be apparent from the following detailed description withaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration example of acommunication system in a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing configuration examples of variousdevices provided for the communication system in the first embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a transmission right proxyacquisition process of a communication device and a relaying device inthe first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are flow charts illustrating a remote control process ofthe communication device, the relaying device and a transmitting devicein the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are flow charts illustrating a transmission right proxyacquisition process of a communication device and a relaying device in asecond embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a remote control process of thecommunication device and a transmitting device in the second embodimentof the present invention;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are flow charts illustrating a transmission rightacquisition process of a communication device, a relaying device, and atransmitting device in a third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a remote control process of thecommunication device and the transmitting device in the third embodimentof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following describes the present invention in detail with referenceto the drawings illustrating embodiments thereof.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration example of acommunication system in a first embodiment of the present invention. Thenumeral 1, 1, . . . in FIG. 1 designates communication devices such asportable IP (Internet Protocol) telephones provided with a transceiverfunction and used in a group communication system such as PoC(Push-to-Talk over Cellular) service. A communication device 1 isconnected to a communication network 100 such as VoIP (Voice overInternet Protocol) network, relayed to a relaying device 2 such as a PoCserver computer, and conducts packet communication with othercommunication devices 1, 1, . . . .

Communication by the PoC service is half duplex communications conductedby plurality of grouped communication devices 1, 1, . . . under thecontrol of a relaying device 2, wherein the communication device 1 thatacquired a transmission right transmits to other communication devices1, 1, . . . through the relaying device 2 packets that are generatedbased on voice data for outputting inputted voice by multipleaddressing. Then, upon receipt of the packets containing the voice data,the communication device 1 outputs voice based on the voice datacontained in the received packets. A transmission right is not retainedby one communication device 1 but is transferred to other communicationdevice 1 that makes a transmission right request. The packets containingthe voice data is based on such a protocol used in VoIP communicationsas RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol), etc.

In addition, to the relaying device 2 is connected a transmitting device3 such as a digital video camera, etc., by way of a communicationnetwork 100, wherein the transmitting device 3 generates image databased on shooting and transmits the generated image data, as packets, bystreaming to the relaying device 2.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing configuration examples of variousdevices provided for the communication system of the first embodiment ofthe present invention. The communication device 1 includes variouscircuits such as control means 10 (controller) for controlling theentire device, recording means 11 (recording unit) formed by volatile ornonvolatile memory that records various information such as a programand data, sound input means 12 (sound input unit) such as a microphone,that receives sound input, sound output means 13 (sound output unit)such as a speaker that outputs sound, display means 14 (display unit)such as a liquid crystal monitor, etc., operating means 15 (operatingunit) such as various pushbuttons, communication means 16 (communicationunit) connected to the communication network 100, accumulating means 17(accumulating unit) to be used as a communication buffer, andaccumulation control means 18 (accumulation control unit) that controlsaccumulation of the accumulating means 17.

Then, in the communication device 1, the following operations arecarried out under the control of the control means 10. The communicationdevice 1 converts into digital data, sound it accepted as analog datafrom the sound input means 12, divides the sound data being the digitaldata into predetermined data length, and transmits it as packets fromthe communication means 16. In addition, when the communication device 1receives packets containing sound data from the communication means 16,it accumulates the sound data contained in the received packets in theaccumulating means 17, and outputs the accumulated sound data to thesound output means 13. The sound output means 13 is constituted fromsound chips, and includes a buffer memory 131, accumulates the acceptedsound data in the buffer memory 131, converts the accumulated sound datainto analog data, and outputs, as sound, the sound data converted intothe analog data at predetermined time intervals set as output intervals.Furthermore, receiving packets containing image data from thecommunication means 16, the communication device 1 accumulates the imagedata contained in the received packets in the accumulating means 17, anddisplays images based on the accumulated image data on the display means14. As the operating means 15 that the communication device 1 includes,there are various pushbuttons, such as, numeric keys, symbol keys,various function keys, etc., for example, and as one of the functionkeys, there is provided PoC dedicated key for requesting a transmissionright.

The relaying device 2 includes control means 20 (controller), recordingmeans 21 (recording unit), and communication means 22 (communicationunit) connected to the communication network 100. The relaying device 2manages grouped devices that make a call based on the PoC service andany device that acquired a transmission right in the group, execute theoperation of allowing one device to acquire a transmission right inresponse to a transmission right request therefrom, and execute theoperation of allowing the one device to release the transmission rightin response to the transmission right release request therefrom.Furthermore, the relaying device 2 records in the recording means 21communication information such as communication address (IP address),indicating a position of the transmitting device on the communicationnetwork 100 of the transmitting device 3, for conducting communicationwith various devices such as the communication device 1 and thetransmitting device 3. In the relaying device 2 are recorded computerprograms for the relaying device of the present invention, such as PoCprocessing program 211 that implements functions as a PoC servercomputer that executes such operations as acquisition and release of atransmission right, broadcasting, etc., and a determination and sortingprogram 212 that determines a type of a received command and sorts acommand associated with PoC and a command associated with proxyoperation of the transmitting device 3, etc. Then, by executing thecomputer program for the relaying device of the present invention thatis recorded in the recording means 21, the relaying device 2 implementsthe functions as the PoC server computer and the determination/sortingfunction, and operates as the relaying device 2 of the presentinvention.

The transmitting device 3 includes control means 30 (controller),recording means 31 (recording unit), shooting means 32 (shooting unit)using an imaging device such as CCD (Charge Coupled Device), etc.,accumulating means 33 (accumulating unit) for accumulating digital databased on shooting by the shooting means 32, generating means 34(generating unit) that compresses the digital data accumulated in theaccumulating means 33 in such a format as MPEG (Moving Picture ExpertsGroup), etc., and generates image data being streaming data, andcommunication means 35 (communication unit) that is connected to thecommunication network 100, and carries out transmission of the imagedata generated by the generating means 34 and reception of data oroperation command to be sent out from the relaying device 2 or thecommunication device 1.

The following describes processes of the various devices in the firstembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustratinga transmission right proxy acquisition process of the communicationdevice 1 and the relaying device 2 in the first embodiment of thepresent invention. The communication device 1 and the relaying device 2execute the following process by control of the respective control means10 and 20.

When a user who operates the communication device 1 desires streamingdelivery of shot images by the transmitting device 3, as a proxy of thetransmitting device 3, a predetermined operation of having thetransmitting device 3 acquire a transmission right is performed. Thecommunication device 1 accepts the transmission right proxy acquisitionoperation from the operating means 15 (S101) and, based on the acceptedoperation, a transmission right grant request that is a command torequest a grant of the transmission right is transmitted from thecommunication means 16 to the relaying device 2 by way of thecommunication network 100 (S102). The transmission right grant requestis one command contained in a group of commands associated with thetransmitting device 3.

The relaying device 2 receives the transmission right grant request atthe communication means 22 (S103), recognizes that the receivedtransmission right grant request is a command, and determines whether itis a command associated with a transmission right of the communicationdevice 1 of a transmission source or a command associated with thetransmitting device 3 (S104). A packet containing the transmission rightgrant request contains, as header information, various types ofinformation such as a packet version, identification information of thedevice of the transmission source such as a communication address,identification information of a device of a receiving end such as acommunication address, packet length, a type of command such as PoC,etc., additional information such as options, etc., data length of theadditional information, etc., and includes content of the command asdata. The additional information includes information such as apre-assigned name, etc. for identifying the transmitting device 3, basedon which information the relaying device 2 makes a determination in stepS104. In addition, if the communication device 1 recognizes theidentification information such as a communication address of thetransmitting device (IP address), etc., as information for specifyingthe transmitting device 3, the identification information may be used asinformation specifying the transmitting device 3.

If it is determined in step S104 that it is the command associated withthe transmitting device 3 (S104: YES), the relaying device 2 follows thereceived command and grants a transmission right to the transmittingdevice 3 (S105). Although granting of a transmission right in step S105requires that any of the grouped devices is not granted a transmissionright or that release of the transmission right granted to other deviceis possible, these requirements are similar to those associated withgranting of a transmission right in the conventional the PoC service. Inaddition, if a transmission right is granted to the transmitting device3, notification information is sent to other grouped devices, informingthem that the transmitting device 3 was granted a transmission right.

If it is determined in step S104 that it is not the command associatedwith the transmitting device 3, in other words, that it is a commandsuch as a transmission right acquisition request, a transmission rightrelease request, etc., of the communication device 1 of the transmissionsource (S104: NO), the relaying device 2 follows the command andexecutes a process for granting/releasing a transmission right to thecommunication device 1, etc. (S106). In the embodiment, because thedescription is given to the embodiment of receiving the commandassociated with the transmitting device 3, unless there is any factorsuch as occurrence of abnormality, setting of other conditions, etc., itis determined in no case in step 104 that it is not the commandassociated with the transmitting device 3.

The relaying device 2 that granted the transmission right to thetransmitting device 3 in step S105 records in the recording means 21 theidentification information that identifies the transmitting device 3 towhich the transmission right was granted and the communication device 1that serves as a proxy of the transmitting device 3, respectively(S107), receives image data based on such a protocol as RTP, etc., beingtransmitted from the transmitting device 3 to which the transmissionright was granted, starts a transfer process by which it broadcasts thereceived image data to a plurality of other grouped devices (S108). Instep S107, by recording the identification information, the relayingdevice manages the identification information of the grouped devices andthe device to which the transmission right was granted, as management ofgrouping of the group communication system. The relaying device 2 of thepresent invention also manages a communication device 1 that serves as aproxy for acquisition of a transmission right, and, as described below,is given authority to operate a transmitting device 2 to which thetransmission right is granted. Although the transmitting device 3 alwaystransmits generated image data to the relaying device 2, it may transmitthe image data only when it receives the notification information andrecognizes that it acquired the transmission right. The communicationdevice 1 that received the image data transferred in step S105 displaysimages based on the image data on the display means 14. Thus, thetransmission right proxy acquisition process is executed.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are flow charts illustrating a remote control process ofthe communication device 1, the relaying device 2 and the transmittingdevice 3 in the first embodiment of the present invention. Thecommunication device 1, the relaying device 2, and the transmittingdevice 3 execute the following process by control of the respectivecontrol means 10, 20 and 30.

A user who operates the communication device 1, as a proxy of thetransmitting device 3, that causes the transmitting device 3 to acquirea transmission right executes predetermined inputs for operating thetransmitting device 3 if he/she desires to execute such operations aschanging of the vertical direction of shooting angle by the transmittingdevice 3, changing of the horizontal direction of the shooting angle,changing of shooting scale factor, etc. The communication device 1accepts the input for operating the transmitting device 3 from thecontrol means 15 (S201), and, based on the accepted input, transmits anoperation command for operating the transmitting device 3 from thecommunication means 16 through the communication network 100 to therelaying device 2 (S202). The operation command is one command containedin a group of commands associated with the transmitting device 3.

The relaying device 2 receives the operation command at thecommunication means 22 (S203), recognizes that the received operationcommand is a command, and determines whether it is a command associatedwith a transmission right of the communication device 1 of thetransmission source or a command associated with the transmitting device3 (S204).

If it is determined in step S204 that the received command is a commandassociated with the transmitting device 3 (S204: YES), the relayingdevice 2 determines whether or not the communication device 1 of thecommunication source of the command is a source of the transmissionright request and is the communication device 1 authorized to operatethe transmitting device 3 (S205). The determination in step S205 is madeby collating the identification information indicating the device of thesource of the packet received as the operation command with theidentification information of the communication device 1 that is managedas the communication device 1 acting as a proxy for acquisition of thetransmission right.

If it is determined in step S205 that it is the command transmitted fromthe communications 1 having the operation authority (S205: YES), therelaying device 2 follows the command and transmits the operationcommand from the communication means 22 through the communicationnetwork 100 to the transmitting device 3 (S206).

If it is determined in step S204 that it is not the command associatedwith the transmitting device 3, in other words, that it is the commandsuch as a transmission right acquisition request, a transmission rightrelease request, etc. of the communication device 1 of the transmissionsource (S204: NO), the relaying device 2 follows the command andexecutes the processes, such as granting, release, etc. of thetransmission right to the communication device 1 (S207). In theembodiment, because the description is given to the embodiment ofreceiving the command associated with the transmitting device 3, unlessthere is any factor such as occurrence of abnormality, setting of otherconditions, etc., it is determined in no case in step 204 that it is notthe command associated with the transmitting device 3.

If it is determined in step S205 that the communication device 1 of thetransmission source of the command is not the communication device 1 ofthe transmission source of the transmission right grant request havingthe operation authority (S205: NO), the relaying device 2 discards thereceived command (S208). In addition, in the embodiment, because thedescription is given to the embodiment of receiving the command from thecommunication device 1 having the operation authority, unless there isany factor such as occurrence of abnormality, setting of otherconditions, etc., it is determined in no case in step 205 that it is notthe command received from the communication device 1 having theoperation authority.

The transmitting device 3 receives the operation command at thecommunication means 35 (S209), and, based on the received operationcommand, executes the operations of changing the vertical direction ofthe shooting angle, changing the horizontal direction of the shootingangle, changing the shooting scale factor, etc. (S210). Whether theoperation has succeeded or not is transmitted as success informationfrom the transmitting device 3 through the relaying device 2 to thecommunication device 1, and if the operation has failed, the operationcommand is transmitted again from the communication device 1. Thus, theremote control process is done.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment is an embodiment of directly transmitting anoperation command from a communication device to a transmitting devicein the first embodiment. In the following description, componentssimilar to those in the first embodiment shall be assigned same symbolsas those in the first embodiment. As configuration examples of thecommunication system and respective devices provided for thecommunication system in the second embodiment of the present inventionare similar to the first embodiment, reference shall be made to thefirst embodiment, and thus a description thereof shall be omitted.

The following describes processes of the various devices thecommunication system in the second embodiment of the present inventionincludes. FIGS. 5A and 5B are flow charts illustrating a transmissionright proxy acquisition process of the communication device 1 and therelaying device 2 in the second embodiment of the present invention. Thecommunication device 1 and the relaying device 2 execute the followingprocess by control of the respective control means 10 and 20.

If a user who operates the communication device 1 desires streamingdelivery of shot images by the transmitting device 3, the predeterminedoperation so as to have the transmitting device 3 as a proxy of thetransmitting device 3 acquire a transmission right is performed. Thecommunication device 1 accepts a transmission right proxy acquisitionoperation from the operating means 15 (S301), and, based on the acceptedoperation, transmits from the communication means 16 through thecommunication network 100 to the relaying device 2, a transmission rightgrant request that is a command to request granting of a transmissionright (S302).

The relaying device 2 receives the transmission right grant request atthe communication means 22 (S303), recognizes that the receivedtransmission right grant request is a command, and determines whether itis a command associated with a transmission right of the communicationdevice 1 of the transmission source or a command associated with thetransmitting device 3 (S304).

If it is determined in step S304 that it is a command associated withthe transmitting device 3 (S304: YES), the relaying device 2 follows thereceived command and grants a transmission right to the transmittingdevice 3 (S305), and transmits to the communication device 1communications information necessary for communication with thetransmitting device 3 (S306). The communication information to betransmitted in step S306 is a communication address (IP address)indicating a location of the transmitting device 3 on the communicationnetwork 100 that mediates communication of the communication device 1,the relaying device 2 and the transmitting device 3.

If it is determined in step S304 that it is not a command associatedwith the transmitting device 3, in other words, that it is a commandsuch as a transmission right acquisition request, a transmission rightrelease request, etc. of the communication device 1 of the transmissionsource (S304: NO), the relaying device 2 follows the command andexecutes the processes associated with a transmission right such asgranting, release, of the transmission right, etc. to the communicationdevice 1 (S307). In addition, in the embodiment, because the descriptionis given to the embodiment of receiving the command associated with thetransmitting device 3, unless there is any factor such as occurrence ofabnormality, setting of other conditions, etc., it is determined in nocase in step 304 that it is not the command associated with thetransmitting device 3.

The relaying device 2 that granted the transmission right andtransmitted the communication information in steps S305 to S306 recordsin the recording means 21 the identification information that identifiesthe transmitting device 3 to which the transmission right was grantedand the communication device 1 that will act as a proxy of thetransmitting device 3, respectively (S308), receives image data beingtransmitted from the transmitting device 3 to which the transmissionright was granted, and starts a transfer process for broadcasting thereceived image data to a plurality of other devices (S309).

The communication device 1 receives the communication information of thetransmitting device 3 at the communication means 16 (S310) and recordsthe received communication information in the recording means 11 (S311).Thus, the transmission right proxy acquisition process is executed.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating the remote control process of thecommunication device 1 and the transmitting device 3 in the secondembodiment of the present invention. The communication device 1 and thetransmitting device 3 execute the following process by control of therespective control means 10 and 30.

If a user who operates the communication device 1 that, as a proxy ofthe transmitting device 3, causes the transmitting device 3 to acquire atransmission right desires the operations of changing the verticaldirection of the shooting angle, changing the horizontal direction ofthe shooting angle, changing the shooting scale factor, etc. by thetransmitting device 3, it executes predetermined input for operating thetransmitting device 3. The communication device 1 accepts the input foroperating the transmitting device 3 from the operating means 15 (S401)and, based on the accepted input, transmits the operation command foroperating the transmitting device 3 from the communication means 16through the communication network 100 to the transmitting device 3indicated in the communication information recorded in the recordingmeans 11 (S402). In step S402, the transmission is based on thecommunication information the transmitting device 3, and therefore theoperation command is transmitted to the transmitting device 3 withoutgoing through the relaying device 2.

The transmitting device 3 receives the operation command at thecommunication means 35 (S403), and, based on the received operationcommand, executes the operations of changing the vertical direction ofthe shooting angle, changing the horizontal direction of the shootingangle, changing the shooting scale factor, etc. (S404). Whether theoperation has succeeded or not is transmitted as success informationfrom the transmitting device 3 to the communication device 1, and if theoperation has failed, the operation command is transmitted again fromthe communication device 1. Thus, the remote control process is done.

Third Embodiment

A third embodiment is an embodiment wherein in the first embodiment, thecommunication device causes the transmitting device to transmit acommand associated with a transmission right, and after the transmittingdevice acquires the transmission right, the communication devicedirectly transmits an operation command to the transmitting device. Inthe following description, components similar to those in the firstembodiment shall be assigned same symbols as those in the firstembodiment. As configuration examples of the communication system andrespective devices provided for the communication system in the thirdembodiment of the present invention are similar to the first embodiment,reference shall be made to the first embodiment, and thus a descriptionthereof shall be omitted.

The following describes processes of the various devices thecommunication system in the third embodiment of the present inventionincludes. FIGS. 7A and 7B are flow charts illustrating a transmissionright acquisition process of the communication device 1, the relayingdevice 2, and the transmitting device 3 in the third embodiment of thepresent invention. The communication device 1, the relaying device 2,and the transmitting device 3 execute the following process by controlof the respective control means 10, 20 and 30.

If a user who operates the communication device 1 desires streamingdelivery of shot images by the transmitting device 3, it executespredetermined operation to cause the transmitting device 3 to acquire atransmission right. The communication device 1 accepts a transmissionright acquisition operation from the operating means 15 (S501), and,based on the accepted operation, transmits from the communication means16 through the communication network 100 to the relaying device 2 atransmission request for transmission information that is a command torequest transmission of communication information such as acommunication address necessary for communication of the transmittingdevice 3 (S502).

The relaying device 2 receives the transmission request for transmissioninformation at the communication means 22 (S503), recognizes that thereceived transmission request for transmission information is a command,and determines whether it is a command associated with the transmissionright of the communication device 1 of the transmission source or acommand associated with the transmitting device 3 (S504).

If it is determined in step S504 that it is the command associated withthe transmitting device 3 (S504: YES), the relaying device 2 follows thecommand and transmits to the communication device 1 the communicationinformation necessary for communication with the transmitting device 3recorded in the recording means 21 (S505).

If it is determined in step S504 that it is not the command associatedwith the transmitting device 3, in other words, that it is the commandsuch as a transmission right acquisition request, a transmission rightrelease request, etc. of the communication device 1 of the transmissionsource (S504: NO), the relaying device 2 follows the command, andexecutes the processes associated with the transmission right, such asgranting, release, etc. of the transmission right to the communicationdevice 1 (S506). In addition, in the embodiment, because the descriptionis given to the embodiment of receiving the command associated with thetransmitting device 3, unless there is any factor such as occurrence ofabnormality, setting of other conditions, etc., it is determined in nocase in step 504 that it is not the command associated with thetransmitting device 3.

The communication device 1 receives the communication information of thetransmitting device 3 at the communication means 16 (S507), record thereceived communication information in the recording means 11 (S508), andtransmits an instruction to transmit a transmission right request thatis a command to cause the transmitting device 3 to transmit atransmission right request for requesting a transmission right to thetransmitting device 3, from the communications means 16 through thecommunication network 100 to the transmitting device 3 indicated by therecorded communication information (S509). As step S509 is thetransmission based on the communication information of the transmittingdevice 3, the instruction to transmit the transmission right request issent to the transmitting device 3 without going through the relayingdevice 2.

The transmitting device 3 receives the instruction to transmit thetransmission right request at the communication means 35 (S510), readsthe communication information relating to the communication device 1 ofthe transmission source of the instruction to transmit the transmissionright request from the header information of a packet containing theinstruction to transmit the transmission right request, records the readcommunication information of the communication device 1 in the recordingmeans 31 (S511), and, based on the instruction to transmit thetransmission right request, transmits to the relaying device 2 throughthe communication network 100 the transmission right request that is acommand to request the transmission right to itself (S512). Thecommunication information relating to the communication device 1 isinformation such as a communication address (IP address) indicating alocation of the communication device 1 on the communication network 100,etc. In step S512, the transmitting device 3 records the communicationinformation of the communication device 1 as communication informationof a device that has operation authority.

The relaying device 2 receives the transmission right request at thecommunication means 22 (S513), and recognizes that the receivedtransmission right request is a command. Then, after determining that itis a command associated with the transmission right of the device of thetransmission source, the transmitting device 3 herein, the relayingdevice follows the received command and grants the transmission right tothe transmitting device 3 (S514).

Then, the relaying device 2 records identification informationspecifying the transmitting device 3 to which the transmission right wasgranted in the recording means 21 (S515), receives image data beingtransmitted from the transmitted device 3 to which the transmissionright was granted, and starts a transfer process for broadcasting thereceived image data to a plurality of other devices (S516). Thus, thetransmission right acquisition process is carried out.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a remote control process of thecommunication device 1 and the transmitting device 3 in the thirdembodiment of the present invention. The communication device 1 and thetransmitting device 3 execute the following process by control of therespective control means 10 and 30.

If a user who operates the communication device 1 that causes thetransmitting device 3 to acquire a transmission right desires theoperations of changing the vertical direction of shooting angle,changing the horizontal direction of the shooting angle, changing theshooting scale factor, etc. by the transmitting device 3, he/sheexecutes predetermined inputs for operating the transmitting device 3.The communication device 1 accepts the input for operating thetransmitting device 3 from the operating means 15 (S601), and, based onthe accepted input, transmits an operation command for operating thetransmitting device 3 from the communication means 16 through thecommunication network 100 to the transmitting device 3 indicated in thecommunication information recorded in the recording means 11 (S602).

The transmitting device 3 receives the operation command at thecommunications means 35 (S603), and determines whether or not thecommunication device 1 of the transmission source of the receivedoperation command is the communication device 1 that is the transmissionsource of the instruction to transmit the transmission right request andhas the operation authority (S604). The determination in step S604 ismade by reading the communication information relating to thecommunication device 1 of the transmission source from the headerinformation of the packet containing the received operation command, andcollating the read communication information with the communicationinformation recorded as the communication information of thecommunication device 1 that has the operation authority, in therecording means 31.

If it is determined in step S604 that it is the communication device 1that has the operation authority (S604: YES), the transmitting device 3executes the operations of changing the vertical direction of theshooting angle, changing the horizontal direction of the shooting angle,changing the shooting scale factor, etc., based on the receivedoperation command (S605). Whether the operation has succeeded or not istransmitted as success information from the transmitting device 3 to thecommunication device 1, and if the operation has failed, the operationcommand is transmitted again from the communication device 1.

If it is determined in step S604 that it is not the communication device1 that has the operation authority (S604: NO), the transmitting device 3discards the received operation command (S606). In addition, in theembodiment, because the description is given to the embodiment ofreceiving the command from the communication device 1 that has theoperation authority, unless there is any factor such as occurrence ofabnormality, setting of other conditions, etc., it is determined in nocase in step 604 that it is not the command received from any deviceother than the communication device 1 that has the operation authority.Thus, the remote control process is done.

Although the first to third embodiments illustrate the embodimentswherein a terminal for an IP telephone provided with the transceiverfunction is used as a communication device, the present invention is notlimited to this, and can be developed into various embodiments in whichit may be any computer if it can be connected to a communicationnetwork, or a computer such as a personal computer may implement a partof all of grouped communication devices, etc.

In addition, although the first to third embodiments illustrate theembodiment wherein the transmitting device transmits the image data, thepresent invention is not limited to this, and enables transmission ofdifferent data such as voice data, detection data generated by using asensor that detects conditions of various devices, meteorological datagenerated by using a sensor that detects weather conditions such astemperature, humidity, wind direction.

In addition, although the embodiments illustrate the embodiment whereinthere is one transmitting device, the present invention is not limitedto this and can use a plurality of transmitting devices, in which caseit is also possible to configure a communication device having operationauthority for each transmitting device.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departingfrom the spirit of essential characteristics thereof, the presentembodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, since thescope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than bythe description preceding them, and all changes that fall within metesand bounds of the claims, or equivalence of such metes and boundsthereof are therefore intended to be embraced by the claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A communication method using a plurality ofcommunication devices and a relaying device that relays data transferredamong the communication devices, a communication device transmitting tothe relaying device a transmission right request for requesting atransmission right, which is one of commands associated with thetransmission right of the communication device and transmitting data tothe relaying device when the communication device is granted atransmission right by the relaying device, and the relaying devicebroadcasting the data received from the communication device to other ofthe communication devices, the communication method comprising:transmitting from the communication device to the relaying device atransmission right grant request for requesting a grant of atransmission right of a transmitting device, which is one of commandsassociated with the transmitting device that communicates with therelaying device; determining, at the relaying device, whether thetransmission right grant request is a command associated with thetransmission right of the communication device of a transmission sourceor the transmission right grant request is a command associated with thetransmitting device; granting, at the relaying device, the transmissionright to the transmitting device based on the command, if the relayingdevice determines that the command is associated with the transmittingdevice; and broadcasting data transmitted from the transmitting deviceto the communication devices via the relaying device.
 2. A communicationmethod using a plurality of communication devices and a relaying devicethat relays data transfer among the communication devices, onecommunication device transmits to the relaying device a transmissionright request for requesting a transmission right, which is one ofcommands associated with its own transmission right and transmits datato the relaying device when the communication device is granted atransmission right by the relaying device, and the relaying devicebroadcasts the received data to other communication device, thecommunication method comprising: transmitting from the communicationdevice to the relaying device a transmission right grant request that isone of commands associated with a transmitting device that communicateswith the relaying device and the communication devices; determining, atthe relaying device, whether the received transmission right grantrequest is a command associated with a transmission right of thecommunication device of a transmission source or the transmission rightgrant request is a command associated with the transmitting device;granting, at the relaying device, the transmission right to thetransmitting device based on the command, if relaying device determinesthat it is the command associated with the transmitting device;broadcasting data transmitted from the transmitting device to theplurality of communication devices through the relaying device; andtransmitting from the relaying device to the communication devicecommunication information necessary for communication with thetransmitting device.
 3. A communication method using a plurality ofcommunication devices and a relaying device that relays data transferamong the communication devices, one communication device transmittingto the relaying device a transmission right request for requesting atransmission right and transmitting data to the relaying device when thecommunication device is granted a transmission right by the relayingdevice, the relaying device broadcasting the data received to anothercommunication device, the communication method comprising: transmittingfrom the communication device to the relaying device a communicationinformation transmission request for requesting transmission ofcommunication information necessary for communication with atransmitting device that communicates with the relaying device and thecommunication devices; transmitting the communication information fromthe relaying device to the communication device in response to thereceived communication information transmission request; transmitting,based on the received communication information, from the communicationdevice to the transmitting device an instruction to transmit atransmission right request that causes the transmitting device totransmit a transmission right request for requesting a transmissionright to the transmitting device; transmitting from the transmittingdevice to the relaying device a transmission right request forrequesting the transmission right to itself based on the receivedinstruction to transmit the transmission right request, granting, at therelaying device, the transmission right to the transmitting device,based on the received transmission right request; and broadcasting datatransmitted from the transmitting device to the plurality ofcommunication devices through the relaying device.
 4. A communicationsystem, comprising: a plurality of communication devices; a relayingdevice for relaying data transfer among the communication devices; and atransmitting device for communicating with the relaying device andtransmitting data to the relaying device, one of the communicationdevices including a communication unit, and a controller coupled withthe communication unit, and capable of performing an operation ofcausing the communication unit to transmit to the relaying device atransmission right grant request for requesting a grant of atransmission right of the transmitting device, which is one of thecommands associated with the transmitting device, and the relayingdevice including a communications unit; and a controller coupled withthe communication unit, and capable of performing operations ofdetermining whether the received transmission right grant request is acommand associated with a transmission right of the communication deviceof a transmission source or the transmission right grant request is acommand associated with the transmitting device; granting a transmissionright to the transmitting device based on the command, if the controllerdetermines that it is the command associated with the transmittingdevice; and causing the communication unit to broadcast data transmittedfrom the transmitting device to the plurality of communication devices.5. The communication system according to claim 4, wherein the controllerof the relaying device is further capable of performing operations of:determining whether the communication device of the transmission sourceof a command associated with the transmitting device is thecommunication device of the transmission source of a transmission rightgrant request; and discarding the command, if the controller determinesthat the communication device of the transmission source of the commandassociated with the transmitting device is not the communication deviceof the transmission source of the transmission right grant request. 6.The communication system according to claim 4, wherein the transmittingdevice further comprises a shooting unit, and wherein the data areimages shot by the shooting unit.
 7. A communication system comprising:a plurality of communication devices; a relaying device for relayingdata transfer among the communication devices; and a transmitting devicethat communicate with the relaying device and communication devices andtransmits data to the relaying device, one of the communication devicesincluding a communication unit; and a controller coupled with thecommunication unit, and capable of performing an operation of causingthe communication unit to transfer to the relaying device a transmissionright grant request for requesting a grant of a transmission right tothe transmitting device, which is one of the commands associated withthe transmitting device, and the relaying device including acommunication unit; and a controller coupled with the communicationunit, and capable of performing operations of determining whether thereceived transmission right grant request is a command associated with atransmission right of the communication device of a transmission sourceor the transmission right grant request is a command associated with thetransmitting device; granting the transmission right to the transmittingdevice based on the command, if the controller determines that it is thecommand associated with the transmitting device; causing thecommunication unit to transmit to the communication device communicationinformation necessary for communication with the transmitting device;and causing the communication unit to broadcast data transmitted fromthe transmitting device to the plurality of communication devices. 8.The communication system according to claim 7, wherein the transmittingdevice includes a controller capable of performing operations ofdetermining whether the communication device of the transmission sourceof the operation command is the communication device of the transmissionsource of an instruction to transmit a transmission right request; anddiscarding the received operation command, if the controller determinesthat the communication device of the transmission source of theoperation command is not the communication device of the transmissionsource of the instruction to transmit a transmission right request. 9.The communication system according to claim 7, wherein the transmittingdevice further comprises a shooting unit, and wherein the data areimages shot by the shooting unit.
 10. A communication system comprising:a plurality of communication devices; a relaying device for relayingdata transfer among the communication devices; and a transmitting devicethat communicates with the relaying device and communication devices,and transmits data to the relaying device, one of the communicationdevices including a communication unit and a controller coupled with thecommunication unit, and capable of performing an operation of causingthe communication unit to transmit to the relaying device acommunication information transmission request for requestingtransmission of the communication information necessary forcommunication with the transmitting device, the relaying device includesa communication unit; and a controller coupled with the communicationunit and capable of performing an operation of causing the communicationunit to transmit to the transmitting device the communicationinformation, in response to the received communication informationtransmission request, the controller of the communication device beingfurther capable of performing an operation of causing the communicationunit to transmit, based on the received communication information, tothe transmitting device an instruction to transmit a transmission rightrequest that causes the transmitting device to transmit a transmissionright request for requesting a transmission right to the transmittingdevice, the transmitting device including a communication unit; and acontroller coupled with the communication unit, and capable ofperforming an operation of causing the communication unit to transmit tothe relaying device the transmission right request for requesting atransmission right to itself, based on the received instruction totransmit the transmission right request, and the controller of therelaying device being further capable of performing operations of:granting the transmission right to the transmitting device, based on thereceived transmission right request; and causing the communication unitto broadcast data transmitted from the transmitting device to theplurality of communication devices.
 11. The communication systemaccording to claim 10, wherein the controller of the transmitting deviceis further capable of performing operations of: determining whether thecommunication device of a transmission source of the operation commandis the communication device of the transmission source of an instructionto transmit transmission right request, and discarding the operationcommand received, if the controller determines that the communicationdevice of the transmission source of the operation command is not thecommunication device of the transmission source of an instruction totransmit a transmission right request.
 12. The communication systemaccording to claim 10, wherein the transmitting device further comprisesa shooting unit, and wherein the data are images shot by the shootingunit.
 13. A relaying device comprising: a communication unit thatcommunicates with a plurality of communication devices and atransmitting device which transmits data; and a controller coupled withthe communication unit, and capable of performing operations of causingthe communication unit to receive from one communication device atransmission right grant request for requesting a grant of atransmission right to the transmitting device, which is one of commandsassociated with the transmitting device; determining whether thereceived command is a command associated with a transmission right ofthe communication device of a transmission source or the transmissionright grant request is a command associated with the transmittingdevice; granting the transmission right to the transmitting device basedon the command, if the controller determines that it is the commandassociated with the transmitting device; and causing the communicationunit to broadcast data transmitted from the transmitting device to theplurality of communication devices.
 14. A relaying device comprising: acommunication unit that communicates with a plurality of communicationdevice and a transmitting device which transmits data; and a controllercoupled with the communication unit, and capable of performingoperations of: causing the communication unit to receive from onecommunication device a transmission right grant request for requesting agrant of a transmission right to the transmitting device, which is oneof the commands associated with the transmitting device; determiningwhether the received command is a command associated with a transmissionright of a communication device of a transmission source, or thetransmission right grant request is a command associated with thetransmitting device; granting the transmission right to the transmittingdevice based on the command, if the controller determines that it is thecommand associated with the transmitting device; causing thecommunication unit to broadcast data transmitted from the transmittingdevice to the plurality of communication devices; and causing thecommunication unit to transmit to the communication device communicationinformation necessary for communicating with the transmitting device.15. A communication device communicating with a relaying device whichcommunicates with a plurality of devices, grants a transmission right toone device of a transmission source of a transmission right request whenthe relaying device receives the transmission right request forrequesting the transmission right from the one device, and broadcastsdata received from the one device to which the transmission right isgranted, the communication device comprising: a communication unit thatcommunicates with a plurality of communication devices and atransmitting device which transmits data; and a controller coupled withthe communication unit, and capable of performing operations of causingthe communication unit to transmit to the relaying device a transmissionright grant request for requesting the grant of the transmission rightto the transmitting device that communicates with the relaying deviceand transmits data to the relaying device.